The University of Maine has tapped an official from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, to serve as athletic director for the Black Bears.

ORONO, Maine (AP) _ Karlton Creech, who begins Feb. 10, was one of three finalists invited to interview on campus by the search committee. He's currently the senior associate director of athletics at UNC Chapel Hill, where he has served in a variety of capacities including overseeing an $88 million football stadium expansion.

UMaine President Paul Ferguson said Thursday that Creech's experience in fundraising and management will move the Black Bears "to new levels of excellence and community engagement."

Seth Woodcock has been serving as interim athletic director since Steve Abbott left the post to return to his previous job as chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.